Scanner notifications

ABSTRACT

A scanner notification indicates an operational status of the scanner, such as a hand-held scanner used at a point-of-sale or as part of an inventory-tracking system. Among other things, a notification might indicate to a user that a product identifier has been verified, product tracking is occurring, a tag is being deactivated, successful completion of scanning functions, and various other operational states of the scanner.

BACKGROUND

Scanners (e.g., hand-held or stationary) are often used at apoint-of-service (POS) or when managing inventory in order to exchangeinformation related to an item of interest (e.g., product at the pointof sale). For instance, scanners can be used to read bar codes, todeactivate security tags, and exchange information with trackingdevices. Sometimes a scanner output device is provided to assist withoperating the scanner. Examples of output devices include a digitaldisplay, speaker, LED indicator, tactile device, and the like.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing ascanner notification indicating an operational status of the scanner.For example, a notification might indicate to a user that a productidentifier has been verified, product tracking is occurring, a tag isbeing deactivated, successful completion of scanning functions, andvarious other operational states of the scanner.

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not thissummary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention isprovided to introduce a selection of concepts, which are furtherdescribed in the detailed-description section below. This summary is notintended to identify key features or essential features of the claimedsubject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation todetermine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated herein by reference, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a system of components in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict respective flow diagrams, each illustrating stepsthat are carried out in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is describedwith specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But thedescription itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofclaims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in otherways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to theones described in this document, in conjunction with other present orfuture technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying anyparticular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unlessand except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.

At a high level, an embodiment of the present invention is directed toproviding scanner notifications, which convey a status of scanningoperations. For example, a scanner (e.g., hand-held or stationary) mightbe used in a point-of-service context to interact with bar codes,security devices, and tracking devices affixed to products beingpurchased. Among other types of notifications, the scanner might providea notification that a bar code has been read and verified. In addition,a notification might indicate that the product includes a securitydevice (e.g., EAS tag), that the security device is being deactivated,and/or that the security device has been successfully deactivated andthat the scanning operations were successful. In another embodiment, anotification indicates that a tracking device is being read and/orupdated. In one embodiment, a scanner is used to execute a progressionof operations, and a series of notifications is provided to indicatewhich particular operation is being performed at an instant in time. Forexample, a series of notifications might be provided to indicate that aparticular item includes a security tag and that the scanner isexecuting a tag-deactivation process.

Having described various embodiments of the present invention, nowdescribed is a general computing device 100 in the context of FIG. 1.That is, one or more embodiments of the present invention might bedirected to a system that is implemented using one or more computingdevices, such as the computing device 100 depicted in FIG. 1. Inaddition, one or more embodiments might include a computer readablemedium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by acomputing device 100, perform a method of providing scannernotifications. Thus, aspects of the present invention might be embodiedin various forms, such as a computing device, a component of a computingdevice, a method, a computer-storage media or device that storesinstructions, and the like.

In FIG. 1 an exemplary computing environment for implementingembodiments of the present invention is shown and designated generallyas computing device 100. Computing device 100 is but one example of asuitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of inventionembodiments. Neither should the computing environment 100 be interpretedas having any dependency or requirement relating to any one orcombination of components illustrated.

Embodiments of the invention might be described in the general contextof computer code or machine-useable instructions, includingcomputer-executable instructions such as program modules, being executedby a computer or other machine, such as a personal data assistant orother handheld device. Generally, program modules including routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., refer to code thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Embodiments of the invention may be practiced in a variety of systemconfigurations, including hand-held devices, hand-held scanners,stationary scanners (e.g., counter mounted), consumer electronics,general-purpose computers, more specialty computing devices, etc.Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote-processingdevices that are linked through a communications network.

With reference to FIG. 1, computing device 100 includes a bus 110 thatdirectly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory 112, one ormore processors 114, one or more presentation components 116, radio 117,input/output ports 118, input/output components 120, and an illustrativepower supply 122. Bus 110 represents what may be one or more busses(such as an address bus, data bus, or combination thereof). Although thevarious blocks of FIG. 1 are shown with lines for the sake of clarity,in reality, delineating various components is not so clear, andmetaphorically, the lines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy. Forexample, one may consider a presentation component such as a displaydevice to be an I/O component. Also, processors have memory. Werecognize that such is the nature of the art, and reiterate that thediagram of FIG. 1 is merely illustrative of an exemplary computingdevice that can be used in connection with one or more embodiments ofthe present invention. Distinction is not made between such categoriesas “workstation,” “server,” “laptop,” “hand-held device,” etc., as allare contemplated within the scope of FIG. 1 and reference to “computingdevice.”

Computing device 100 typically includes a variety of computer-readablemedia. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by computing device 100 and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computerstorage media and communication media.

Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable andnon-removable, tangible and non-transient media, implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such ascomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. Computer storage media includes RAM; ROM; EEPROM; flashmemory or other memory technology; CD-ROM; digital versatile disks (DVD)or other optical disk storage; magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices; or othermediums or computer storage devices which can be used to store thedesired information and which can be accessed by computing device 100.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,communication media includes wired media, such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media, such as acoustic, RF,infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Memory 112 includes computer-storage media in the form of volatileand/or nonvolatile memory. The memory may be removable, nonremovable, ora combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices include solid-statememory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. Computing device 100includes one or more processors 114 that read data from various entitiessuch as memory 112 or I/O components 120. Presentation component(s) 116present data indications to a user or other device. Exemplarypresentation components include a display device, diode, speaker,printing component, vibrating component, etc.

Radio 117 functions to send and receive signals from a network, such asa telecommunications network. I/O ports 118 allow computing device 100to be logically coupled to other devices including I/O components 120,some of which may be built in. Illustrative components include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer,wireless device, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a system of networked components is depictedthat are usable to provide scanner notifications. The system 210includes a scanning device 212, a point-of-service (POS) system 214, andan anti-theft portal 230. The components 212, 214, and 230 mightcommunicate with one another via one or more connections 215 and 217,such as a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. For example,the scanning device 212 might receive a product identifier when aproduct code (e.g., bar code) is scanned and communicate with the POSsystem 214 via the connection 215 to exchange information relevant to aproduct. Once a product has been purchased, the POS system 214 mightcommunicate with the anti-theft portal 230 to notify the portal 230 thata particular product is sold. Each of the scanner 212, POS system 214,and anti-theft portal 230 might include a respective computing devicehaving some or all of the components described with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 also illustratively depicts that the scanning device 212 and thePOS system 214 include various components that are not explicitlydescribed with respect to FIG. 1. For example, the scanning device 212includes a code reader 216, a security-device deactivator 218, atracking-device reader 219, an output device 220, and aproduct-identifier datastore 222 stored in a memory of the scanningdevice 212. In addition, the POS system 214 might include anotherproduct-identifier datastore 224, which might include similarinformation as stored in the product-identifier datastore 222 of thescanner 212. Although FIG. 2 depicts that both the scanning device 212and the POS system 214 include respective lookup tables, it might be thecase that only a single lookup table is stored in the system 210.

The code reader 216 might perform various functions, and in one aspect,the code reader 216 scans a bar code to determine a product identifier.The code reader 216 includes various elements, such as a light sourceand optics components that function to read the bar code.

The product-identifier datastores 222 and 224 store a listing of uniqueproduct identifiers, as well as information related to a particularproduct identifier. The information might be stored in varioussearchable formats, such as in a lookup table that associates relevantinformation with each unique product identifier. Examples of the typesof information that might be stored include an indication of whether aproduct includes a security device (e.g., EAS tag or label) and/orwhether a product includes a tracking device (e.g., RFID tag). Again,the information might be stored in the memory of each scanner 212. Inaddition (or alternatively), the information might be stored in acentral datastore of the POS system.

The security-device deactivator 218 functions to deactivate a securitytag or label that is attached to a product, such as an EAS tag or label.The security-device deactivator 218 might function in various ways todeactivate the security device, such as actively warming the tag.

The tracking-device reader 219 exchanges information between a trackingtag (e.g., RFID tag) on the product and a tracking system, which canprovide various tasks, such as inventory control. For example, thetracking-device reader 219 can read information contained in a trackingtag, and communicate it to other systems, such as the POS system, atracking system, and/or the anti-theft portal. In addition, thetracking-device reader 219 might issue an order to modify some or all ofthe content of the tracking tag, which can deter end-user tracking.

The scanner further includes an output device 220, similar to thepresentation component 116 of FIG. 1. The output device 220 functions toreport or present indications conveying an operating status of thescanner. Exemplary output devices include a digital display, a speakerproviding an audible beep, an LED indicator, a vibrating component orother tactile-feedback mechanism, a light-beam emitter, and the like. Inan embodiment, the output device 220 presents a series of notificationsindicating a status of a particular operation, such as pending,successfully completed, or failed.

In a further embodiment, the notifications that are provided by theoutput device 220 might be presented in various manners. For example, anotification might include be audible (e.g., beep), visual (e.g.,colored light), tactile (e.g., vibrate), or a combination thereof.Colored-light notifications can include various styles such as an LED ora light-beam emission directed onto a scanned surface.

The output might be manipulated in various manners to convey differentnotifications. For instance, a light output might include a constantemission to convey one type of notification and a flashing emission toconvey a different notification. In addition, a color notification mightchange from one color to another color to represent a change in statusof the scanner. For instance, a constantly emitted green light mightconvey a successful completion of scanner operations, whereas a yellowor red light might convey a failure in operations. In another aspect, ablinking green light conveys that that scanner is successfully workingthrough a pending operation, but has not yet completed the operation.These are merely examples of output types, and various other outputsmight be used to provide notifications of scanner operations.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram depicts a series of steps oroperations 310 that are carried out in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. In one embodiment, the steps 310 are included ina method of presenting scanner notifications. In another embodiment, thesteps 310 are stored as computer-executable instructions on acomputer-readable medium. In a further embodiment, the steps 310 arecarried out by a computing device or as part of a system.

The steps 310 include scanning 312 a product code. For example, the codereader 216 of the scanner 212 reads a bar code, and a unique productidentifier is received by the scanner. Step 314 includes determiningwhether the product identifier is verified. For example, aproduct-identifier datastore (222 and/or 224) might be referenced tosearch for the product identifier. Based on the datastore, adetermination can be made as to whether the product identifier existsand is active.

If the product identifier is not verified, then step 316 includespresenting a failed-verification notification. For example, the outputdevice 219 might emit a colored-notification having a certain color(e.g., red) or a logo (e.g., x-out) or an audible beep that indicates tothe user that the product identifier was not verified.

At step 318, if the product identifier is verified, then asuccessful-verification notification is presented. For example, theoutput device might emit a colored-notification having a colorindicating that the product identifier was verified. However,product-identifier verification might not represent the only operationperformed by the scanner, such that a series of notifications areprovided in addition to, or near simultaneously with, thesuccessful-verification notification.

At step 320, a determination is made as to whether the product includesa security device, which is to be deactivated. For instance, thedatastore 222 or 224 might store information associated with the productidentifier that indicates whether the product includes a security deviceto be deactivated. Thus, the determination can be made by searching orreferencing the datastore. In one embodiment, the determination is madewhen the product identifier is verified. If the product doesn't includea security device to be activated, then at step 322 a successful-scannotification is presented. For example, a constantly emitted light beamhaving a particular color or logo might be directed onto a scannedsurface.

At step 324, if it has been determined that the product does include asecurity device to be deactivated, then a set ofdeactivation-notification operations are initiated by presenting adeactivation-pending notification. For example, if a colored light(e.g., green) is emitted to convey that a product identifier has beenverified, then the colored light might be caused to flash or blink whilethe deactivation process is being carried out to convey to a user thatthe deactivation is pending. As indicated with respect to step 318,notifications might be combined into a single output conveying multipleoperational statuses. For instance, a colored-light notification mightinclude a particular color (e.g., green) to indicate one status (e.g.,verified product identifier) and might be flashing to indicate anotherstatus (e.g., deactivation pending).

Step 326 is also included within the set of deactivation-notificationoperations and includes determining whether the security device has beendeactivated. If the security device has been deactivated, then asuccessful-scan notification is presented at step 322. For example, ifthe deactivation-pending notification included a blinking lightnotification, then the successful-scan notification might include aconstantly emitted light notification. In one embodiment, determiningwhether the security device has been deactivated includes trying to scanthe security device after an initial reading to determine whether thesecurity device is still active.

In contrast, if the security device has not been successfullydeactivated, then a failed-deactivation notification is presented atstep 328. For instance, if the successful-verification notificationincluded a colored-light notification, then the failed-deactivationnotification might modify the color, include an audible beep, provide atactile feedback, or a combination thereof. In one instance,presentation of either the successful-deactivation notification or thefailed-deactivation notification concludes the deactivation-notificationoperations.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another flow chart is depicted that illustratesanother series of steps 410, which are carried out in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the steps 410are included in a method of presenting scanner notifications. In anotherembodiment, the steps 410 are stored as computer-executable instructionson a computer-readable medium. In a further embodiment, the steps 410are carried out by a computing device or as part of a system.

The steps 410 include scanning 412 a product code. For example, the codereader 216 of the scanner 212 reads a bar code, and a unique productidentifier is received by the scanner. Step 414 (similar to step 314)includes determining whether the product identifier is verified. Forexample, a product-identifier datastore (222 and/or 224) might bereferenced to search for the product identifier. Based on the datastore,a determination can be made as to whether the product identifier existsand is active.

If the product identifier is not verified, then step 416 (similar tostep 316) includes presenting a failed-verification notification. Forexample, the output device 219 might emit a colored-notification havinga certain color (e.g., red) or a logo (e.g., x-out) or an audible beepthat indicates to the user that the product identifier was not verified.

At step 418, if the product identifier is verified, then asuccessful-verification notification is presented. For example, theoutput device might emit a colored-notification having a colorindicating that the product-identifier was verified. However,product-identifier verification might not represent the only operationperformed by the scanner, such that a series of notifications areprovided in addition to, or near simultaneously with, thesuccessful-verification notification.

At step 420, a determination is made as to whether the product includesa tracking device (e.g., RFID tag) to be updated. For instance, thedatastore 222 or 224 might store information associated with the productidentifier that indicates whether the product includes a trackingdevice. Thus, the determination can be made by searching or referencingthe datastore. In one embodiment, the determination is made when theproduct identifier is verified and/or when a determination is made as towhether the product includes a security device (e.g., step 320). If theproduct doesn't include a tracking device, then at step 422 adetermination is made as to whether the product includes a securitydevice, such as by looking up the product identifier in the datastore.

At step 424, if it has been determined that the product does include atracking device, then a set of tracking-update operations are initiatedby presenting a tracking-pending notification at step 426. For example,as previously described, if a colored light (e.g., green) is emitted toconvey that a product identifier has been verified, then the coloredlight might be caused to flash or blink at a first frequency while thetracking process is being carried out to convey to a user that thetracking operations are pending. As previously described, notificationsmight be combined into a single output conveying multiple operationalstatuses. For instance, a colored-light notification might include aparticular color (e.g., green) to indicate one status (e.g., verifiedproduct identifier) and might be flashing to indicate another status(e.g., tracking pending).

Step 428 includes reading and sending tracking information. For example,information contained in a tracking tag can be read from the tag by thetracking-device reader 219 and might be communicated to the POS systemor the anti-theft controller. The information contained in the trackingtag can be used to update 430 a status of the product in one or moresystems (e.g., POS and/or anti-theft).

Once the tracking operations are completed, then step 432 includespresenting a successful tracking notification, and a determination ismade 422 as to whether a security device is present. If no securitydevice is present, then a successful-scan notification is presented atstep 434. For example, a constantly emitted light beam having aparticular color or logo might be directed onto a scanned surface.

If it has been determined that the product does include a securitydevice to be deactivated, then a set of deactivation-notificationoperations are initiated by presenting a deactivation-pendingnotification at step 436. The set of deactivation-notificationoperations include steps 436, 438 and 434 or 440, and are similar to thedeactivation-notification operations described with respect to FIG. 3.For example, a deactivation-pending notification might include varioustypes of outputs provided by the output device 222. One exemplarydeactivation-pending notification includes a blinking colored-lightnotification that flashes at a frequency different than thetracking-pending notification in step 426. However, the tracking-pendingnotification might be modified in various manners to indicate that thetracking was successfully completed and that the operations haveproceeded into the deactivation-notification operations.

In one embodiment, a step of modifying the tracking-pending notification(presented in step 426) conveys one or more operational statuses, suchas the successful-tracking notification and the transition of thescanner to either a successful-scan status or to thedeactivation-notification operations. For example, the tracking-pendingnotification might include a blinking colored-light notification thatcould be modified in various manners to indicate a subsequent status ofthe scanner. One modification includes changing the blinking conditionto a non-blinking state to provide a successful-tracking notification,to indicate that no security device is present, and to provide asuccessful-scan notification. In that instance, the mere modification ofthe blinking state to a non-blinking state conveys multiple operationalstatuses. Other outputs might be combined with the modification, such asan audible beep or chirp, or a tactile feedback. Another modification ofthe tracking-pending notification includes changing a frequency withwhich with colored-notification blinks to provide thedeactivation-pending notification. That is, the modification of theblinking colored-notification from a first blinking frequency (conveyingthe tracking-pending notification) to a second blinking frequency(conveying the deactivation-pending notification) also provides thesuccessful-tracking notification. Other modifications might also be madeto the tracking-pending notification such as modifying a color of acolored-light notification.

In another embodiment, a single tag or device that is attached to anitem or product of interest might provide both an inventory-controlfunctionality and an anti-theft mechanism. Accordingly, the barcodemight read to obtain a product identifier, which is verified using thedatastore 222 or 224. At that point, an operations-pending notificationmight be provided, such as by a flashing colored-light notification,which also conveys that the product identifier was verified. Thetracking operations might include transmitting the tracking informationincluded in the tag to the anti-theft portal, which updates a status ofthe product (e.g., marked as “sold”). The scanner then modifies at leastpart of the tag to avoid end-user tracking or simply close thetransaction. The anti-theft portal at the exit door can detect the tagwhen the product passes through the portal, at which time the productidentifier is transmitted to the security system. Because the status wasalready updated, the system can verify that the item has been purchasedand communicate with the anti-theft system to not present an alarm.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the scopeof the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been describedwith the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternativeembodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after andbecause of reading it. Alternative means of implementing theaforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of theclaims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinationsand are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. Computer storage media storingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computingdevice, perform operations for presenting tag-scanner notificationscomprising: receiving a product identifier obtained by a scan of aproduct code; determining that the product identifier is verified bylooking the product identifier up in a product-identifier datastore;presenting a verified-product notification indicating that the productidentifier is verified; determining that the product identifier isassociated with a product-tracking device by searching informationassociated with the product identifier; executing tracking-updateoperations comprising: presenting a tracking-pending notification;wirelessly reading tracking information that is stored by theproduct-tracking device and that is sent to a tracking controller; andupdating a status of the product to reflect the tracking information;determining whether the product identifier is associated with a securitydevice by searching information associated with the product identifier;if the security device is not associated with the product identifier,presenting a successful-scan notification; and if the security device isassociated with the product identifier executing operations comprising:presenting a deactivation-pending notification; determining whether thesecurity device is successfully deactivated; if the security device issuccessfully deactivated, presenting the successful-scan notification,and if the security device is not successfully deactivated, presenting afailed-deactivation notification.
 2. The computer storage media of claim1, wherein presenting the verified-product notification includesemitting a colored-light notification.
 3. The computer storage media ofclaim 2, wherein emitting the colored-light notification includesemitting a light beam onto a scanned surface.
 4. The computer storagemedia of claim 2, wherein emitting the colored-light notificationincludes illuminating a light-emitting diode.
 5. The computer storagemedia of claim 2, wherein the verified-product notification isrepresented by a color of the colored-light notification, and whereinpresenting the deactivation-pending notification includes causing thecolored-light notification to blink by intermittently emitting a coloredlight.
 6. The computer storage media of claim 5, wherein presenting thesuccessful-scan notification includes modifying the presentation of thecolored-light notification from a blinking state to a constantly-emittedstate.
 7. The computer storage media of claim 5, wherein presenting thefailed-deactivation notification includes changing the colored-lightnotification from a first color to a second color.
 8. The computerstorage media of claim 1, wherein determining whether the securitydevice is successfully deactivated includes reading the security deviceat a first instant in time, executing a deactivation process after thesecurity device is read at the first instant in time, and attempting toread the security device at a subsequent instant in time, and whereinthe successful-scan notification is presented when the security deviceis read during the first instant in time and is not readable at thesecond instant in time.
 9. The computer storage media of claim 1,wherein presenting the verified-product notification includes presentinga colored-light notification having a first color and wherein presentingthe successful-scan notification includes presenting anothercolored-light notification having a second color.
 10. Computer storagemedia storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by acomputing device, perform operations for presenting tag-scannernotifications comprising: receiving a product identifier obtained by ascan of a product code; determining that the product identifier isverified by looking the product identifier up in a product-identifierdatastore; presenting a verified-product notification indicating thatthe product identifier is verified; determining that the productidentifier is associated with a product-tracking device by searchinginformation associated with the product identifier; executingtracking-update operations comprising: presenting a tracking-pendingnotification; wirelessly reading tracking information that is stored bythe product-tracking device and that is sent to a tracking controller;and updating a status of the product to reflect the trackinginformation; determining that the product identifier is associated witha security device by searching information associated with the productidentifier; and executing deactivation-notification operationscomprising: presenting a deactivation-pending notification; determiningthat the security device is successfully deactivated; and presenting asuccessful-scan notification.
 11. The computer storage media of claim10, wherein presenting the verified-product notification includesemitting a colored-light notification.
 12. The computer storage media ofclaim 11, wherein the verified-product notification is represented by acolor of the colored-light notification, and wherein presenting thedeactivation-pending notification includes causing the colored-lightnotification to blink by intermittently emitting a colored light. 13.The computer storage media of claim 12, wherein presenting thedeactivation-pending notification includes modifying a frequency withwhich the colored-light notification is intermittently emitted.
 14. Thecomputer storage media of claim 12, wherein presenting thedeactivation-pending notification includes changing the colored-lightnotification from a first color to a second color.
 15. The computerstorage media of claim 12, wherein presenting a successful-scannotification includes modifying the colored-light notification from ablinking status, which indicates the deactivation process is beingexecuted, to a non-blinking status indicating that the deactivationprocess was successfully executed.
 16. A scanning device that presentsscanner notifications conveying a status of scanning operations, thescanning device comprising: a barcode reader; a tracking-device reader:a security-device deactivator; an output device; and one or moreprocessors that are coupled to the barcode reader, the security-devicedeactivator, and the output device, and that are coupled to acomputer-readable medium, which stores instructions executable by theprocessor including: receiving a product identifier from the barcodereader; verifying the product identifier; determining that the productidentifier is associated with a product-tracking device; instructing theoutput device to present a tracking-device notification conveying astatus of the tracking-device reader; determining that the productidentifier is associated with a security device; instructing the outputdevice to present a successful-verification notification and adeactivation-pending notification; determining that the security deviceis deactivated; and instructing the output device to present asuccessful-scan notification.
 17. The scanning device of claim 16,wherein the product identifier is verified by searching aproduct-identifier datastore, which is also searched to determine thatthe product identifier is associated with the security device.
 18. Thescanning device of claim 17 further comprising the product-identifierdatastore.
 19. The device of claim 16, wherein the output deviceincludes a light-beam emitter, which directs a beam of light onto atarget object.
 20. The device of claim 16 further comprising, atracking-device reader, wherein the processor instructs the outputdevice to present a tracking-device notification conveying a status ofthe tracking-device reader.